Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-30

OF the Council Of Foreign Bondholders
at London, copy OF which he at once
transmitted TO each branch of the Gene
raj = Assembly:
Ccregaor Ice, RicLmond, Va:
Tho committee will appoint conmt sion %
80 to Niff inie 20 cOnfcr with representatives OF
tho state for the setiiemont Of tho debt on re-
CciviDg your assurance thnt the basis Of any
agreement which may 10 arrived a. shall be
avBiable revenue rs mutually agreed, after
competent and Independent investigation. II
the Legislature will empower tho government
10 consent 20 this basis Of compromise shall
be glad OF your intimation accordingly by
cable. BOUvBRIE, Chairman.
The communication was laid on the
table and was considered in the Demo
cratic caucus both that night and the
next afternoon. At the latter confe-
renee a preamble and resolutions pro-
vidinq for the appointment Of joint
committee OF the two houses of the
General assembly to meet this comnis-
sion bero not later than April 18th were
agreed upon. a special session OF both
houses was held that night, at which
copies of the resolutions were intro
duced. In the House they were dis
cussed briefly and adopted in the Sen
ate they were referred to the Commit
tee on Finance.
This committee reported them next
morning with an amendment, and both
they and the ones communicated from
the House were passed by and made
the spccial and continuing order for
12} o'clock Yesterday the latter having
precedence on the calendar.
When this hour arrived yesterday the
president directed the special order to
be called, and both the Senate and
House resolutions were read also, the
amendment proposed TO the former by
Mr.. Wickham III the Finance Commit
tee. The House resolutions having
precedence on the calendar, it was de
Cided to consider these first
10 GIVE THEM MORE TIME.
Mr.. Koiner moved to amend the
resolutions by striking out April 10Th
in the second one and inserting April
2Oth. thus allowing the committee to
receive the commission eight days later
than originally provided.
Mr.. Williams moved TO amend by
substituting the 18th for the Goth.
Mr.. KOiner said there might be some
miscarriage of the message, and he
thought il far better that this additional
time should be given.
Mr.. Williams said he did not under
stand that the Legislature was called
and assembled TO dance attendance
upon The bondholders If they want
a conference, and he hoped they do,
he trusted they would appoint their
commission at once and let them come
here and accomplish whatever can be
for the mutual good of the State and
themselves.
Mr.. Meredith thought Mr. Koiner's
amendment but just and advocated its
adoption.
THE RIDDLEBERGER BILL.
Mr.. Causey moved TO amend the
resolutions by adding the following at
the end of the first one:
Tycri9cd, That in relation to the settlement Of
tho public debt said joint committee shall
u. 1881, commonly known as tho Riddleberger
bill.
Mr.. Causey briefly advocated the
adoption OF his amendment, saying
that he wanted a settlement of this
vcxcd question, but upon no other basis
than tie Riddleberger bill, to which the
people of the State are pledged.
MIR. Wickham opposed this amend
mont. He, as much as any one, desired
to stand forever on the RiddJeberger
hill yet he would support plan en-
bodyinG slight immaterial changes not
increasing the amount to be paid. The
bondholders have said most emphati-
callv that they will not settle under the
provisions of this bill and Virginia's
representative that they will never
settle upon any other terms. Unless
some compromise measure is agreed
upon no settlement will ever be effected.
But be was not disposed to accept the
telms outlined in Mr.. BOuverie's cable
gram. Ifthe matteris settled as the bond
holders suggest the hands of the Legis-
lature will be tied and no appropriation
can he made even for the erection of
new insane asylum.
Mr.. Wickham gave notice that be
would at the proper time propose an
which would show the ere
ditors the purpose of the Legislature.
and which, he hoped, would commend
itself to his friends on the floor.
Mr.. Koiner said this was subject
involving such magnitude and impOr-
tance to the people of Virginia that the
Senate should not sickle over these
trifling details. 1t was important to
communicate with the bondholders.
The only way is to cable them and have
a conference. He hoped the resolu-
tions would be adopted as they came
from the House with his amendment.
Mr.. Mccormick said the adoption OF
Mr.. Causey'samendmentwould destroy
the good Of the resolutions. The com
mittee. the appointment of which they
provide for, has no power to bind
either the Legislature or State. Every
thing they do will come back in the
shape of report. The Legislature re-
iains absolute control over both the
committee and commission so far as her
interests and her side of the contract
are concerned. This was the first op
portunity in many years to eliminate
this subject from politics. possibly to
settle it forever, and he did hope the
Senate would adopt the resolutions with
Mr.. Wickham' S amendment, and let the
conference be held as soon as practica-
Die.
Mr.. Causey y'samendment wasrejected.
mR. wICEHAM : AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Wickham moved to amend the
resolutions by striking out all after the
word Commonwealth " and insert
- shall send to the Council of Foreign
a message iii the following
words:
.sThe Legislature Of Virginia has appointed
, committee to confer in the city of Richmond
5ith "a commission OF your Council at date not
ater thgn April S0ih. The Legislature believes
hat much benefit win accrue from such con-
ference but they cannot accept the basis Sug-
rested IN your cablegran, regarding IL as filled
with uncertainty and fiuciuatlon IN amount;
md shall accompany it with copy of
.bese resolutions"
Mr. Wickham strongly urged the
adoption of bis amendment. Virginia's |
,reditors had forced her into position
where she was compelled to say that
he was next to bankrupt. He depiored
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